There is not much for one to say other than: Many of the combination weapons were of a weak design and made poor weapons for fighting as you stated and I agreed, however I also stated that not all of them were.

You asked for some examples and for me to explain how they were usfull, I listed a web page that has a few combination weapons that are of sound creation and were used as any other weapon. I dont have the time to explain all of them and a few even I don't know much about, but if you want certan ones explained I'll do my best to do so.

You said that you did not like combination weapons in general and that if they were more effective they would have been more popular. I replied with "In many cases that was so....however the reason the few good ones didn't make it was do to the difficulty and expence in the making."

If there is anything I missed please, let me know so I may answer. Also I'm not sure if this is considered on the topic of such so, perhaps we should move this into the General Discussion.

Nono I meant in particular countering this:

1. Gun: The weight of the sword will render the gun incredibly inaccurate.
2. Sword: The handle would render the versatility of techniques completely incompetent in which fighting with it as a sword would be pointless.

It depends on the pinfire. For some, that may stand true and for others not so much. If I am to to give specific counter points, I need you to be specific about which pinfire, there are many gun/sword combination weapons. I know you were speaking of them in general, but that just shouldn't be done.

#1 "The weight of the sword will render the gun incredibly inaccurate." that is true for some but not others.
#2 "The handle would render the versatility of techniques completely incompetent in which fighting with it as a sword would be pointless." again that is true for some but not others.

The pinfire I preveously posted does not render the versatility of techniques completely useless nor does the weight of the blade cause the gun to be inaccurate.

I am speaking in general of any sword/gun combination.
I just used the pinfire as an example.

You didn't explain why it wouldn't hinder the accuracy or the sword techniques.

Being a long time gunslinger I can't imagine it would have any accuracy.
As a long time swordsman I can't imagine it would be able to be wielded as a sword properly unless techniques were made specifically for it.

The sword wouldn't hinder the accuracy because the guns weren't used for long rang shooting so that mattered little anyway nor were the blades that heavy on some of the swords, such as the rapier I listed. The guns were used as a back up against opponents with guns, combination weapons, or if the opponent(s) were to much for them to handle. All for short to medium range, the guns on things of such were usually snub nosed anyway so the thought of using them for any other purpose than short ranged combat would be the foolish mistake and death of the user.

As for being able to use the sword properly. The guns on the blades were ussually small, single round, and were placed on the balance point. Not to mention, any swordsman will mold the techniques they learned to suit them as individual according to their style, personality, and the weapon of choice. Combination weapons included.

I have been a gun and blade user for many years as well and it's all about preference when it comes to combination weapons. If one chooses to use things of such, they adapt to do so, as with anything.

To the readers. I'm not saying all of the combination weapons were usefull, MOST were worthless. I'm just saying that not all were useless for combat purposes.

Okay I see.
I was under the understanding the hilt was heavily modified to fit the gun as well, which would most definitely hinder the abilities of swordsmanship?

I did not know they were short range only. I learned something.
So if you were fighting, you could just attack at the upper-body [feint] and shoot them?
Is that the usual technique? I would think it would leave you open which is why I assumed that it's range must be farther to be useful.

Ah and the rapier, while being a much lighter blade than others, is still hefty in it's own. It's the distribution of weight as it's a very long blade.

If I pick up both my katana and my rapier, my katana is much lighter and more comfortable.

The distribution of weight kills in the midst of a battle. Wounds + sore muscles + distributed weight over a lengthy blade = hard to wield the blade.
I've seen that in Fencing with the sore muscles alone. It really kills.
Some of those in the class who were of lesser body mass often were not able to go on. I had trouble so I built up my upper-body strength to counter it, but it only countered it for awhile. In the end, it doesn't matter.

"So if you were fighting, you could just attack at the upper-body [feint] and shoot them?
Is that the usual technique?" - Ice

Like I said, it would depend on the person's technique.

What kind of rapier do you own , year, style, country founded, steel comp., and the the year it's modeled after.
I'm psyched, naturally I LOVE WEAPONS.

There is not much for one to say other than: Many of the combination weapons were of a weak design and made poor weapons for fighting as you stated and I agreed, however I also stated that not all of them were.

You asked for some examples and for me to explain how they were usfull, I listed a web page that has a few combination weapons that are of sound creation and were used as any other weapon. I dont have the time to explain all of them and a few even I don't know much about, but if you want certan ones explained I'll do my best to do so.

You said that you did not like combination weapons in general and that if they were more effective they would have been more popular. I replied with "In many cases that was so....however the reason the few good ones didn't make it was do to the difficulty and expence in the making."

If there is anything I missed please, let me know so I may answer. Also I'm not sure if this is considered on the topic of such so, perhaps we should move this into the General Discussion.

Nono I meant in particular countering this:

1. Gun: The weight of the sword will render the gun incredibly inaccurate.
2. Sword: The handle would render the versatility of techniques completely incompetent in which fighting with it as a sword would be pointless.

It depends on the pinfire. For some, that may stand true and for others not so much. If I am to to give specific counter points, I need you to be specific about which pinfire, there are many gun/sword combination weapons. I know you were speaking of them in general, but that just shouldn't be done.

#1 "The weight of the sword will render the gun incredibly inaccurate." that is true for some but not others.
#2 "The handle would render the versatility of techniques completely incompetent in which fighting with it as a sword would be pointless." again that is true for some but not others.

The pinfire I preveously posted does not render the versatility of techniques completely useless nor does the weight of the blade cause the gun to be inaccurate.

I am speaking in general of any sword/gun combination.
I just used the pinfire as an example.

You didn't explain why it wouldn't hinder the accuracy or the sword techniques.

Being a long time gunslinger I can't imagine it would have any accuracy.
As a long time swordsman I can't imagine it would be able to be wielded as a sword properly unless techniques were made specifically for it.

The sword wouldn't hinder the accuracy because the guns weren't used for long rang shooting so that mattered little anyway nor were the blades that heavy on some of the swords, such as the rapier I listed. The guns were used as a back up against opponents with guns, combination weapons, or if the opponent(s) were to much for them to handle. All for short to medium range, the guns on things of such were usually snub nosed anyway so the thought of using them for any other purpose than short ranged combat would be the foolish mistake and death of the user.

As for being able to use the sword properly. The guns on the blades were ussually small, single round, and were placed on the balance point. Not to mention, any swordsman will mold the techniques they learned to suit them as individual according to their style, personality, and the weapon of choice. Combination weapons included.

I have been a gun and blade user for many years as well and it's all about preference when it comes to combination weapons. If one chooses to use things of such, they adapt to do so, as with anything.

To the readers. I'm not saying all of the combination weapons were usefull, MOST were worthless. I'm just saying that not all were useless for combat purposes.

Okay I see.
I was under the understanding the hilt was heavily modified to fit the gun as well, which would most definitely hinder the abilities of swordsmanship?

I did not know they were short range only. I learned something.
So if you were fighting, you could just attack at the upper-body [feint] and shoot them?
Is that the usual technique? I would think it would leave you open which is why I assumed that it's range must be farther to be useful.

Ah and the rapier, while being a much lighter blade than others, is still hefty in it's own. It's the distribution of weight as it's a very long blade.

If I pick up both my katana and my rapier, my katana is much lighter and more comfortable.

The distribution of weight kills in the midst of a battle. Wounds + sore muscles + distributed weight over a lengthy blade = hard to wield the blade.
I've seen that in Fencing with the sore muscles alone. It really kills.
Some of those in the class who were of lesser body mass often were not able to go on. I had trouble so I built up my upper-body strength to counter it, but it only countered it for awhile. In the end, it doesn't matter.

"So if you were fighting, you could just attack at the upper-body [feint] and shoot them?
Is that the usual technique?" - Ice

Like I said, it would depend on the person's technique.

What kind of rapier do you own , year, style, country founded, steel comp., and the the year it's modeled after.
I'm psyched, naturally I LOVE WEAPONS.

I do not know what year. It's a modern reproduction model. It's very good reproduction though.
It is modeled after the late 1500's rapier. It has an Italian three ringed swept hilt with a German blade.

Christophe Poirier is the smith.

Steel composition? You mean metallurgy or just it's make? If it's the latter; High carbon forged steel. Tempered. If it's the previous; No clue. Not my area of expertise.

I found you an new sword to boggle the mind, In Utawarerumono Karura carries a sword that like six men had difficulty lifting. My hubby called "the sword of the hell bent woman", I thought it was funny.

I found you an new sword to boggle the mind, In Utawarerumono Karura carries a sword that like six men had difficulty lifting. My hubby called "the sword of the hell bent woman", I thought it was funny.

I found you an new sword to boggle the mind, In Utawarerumono Karura carries a sword that like six men had difficulty lifting. My hubby called "the sword of the hell bent woman", I thought it was funny.

I do not mean to be rude, but how is that related to the topic? o.o;

"Most of these anime guys like Inuyasha, Cloud, and the like just swing ridiculous sized swords [which would not be effective even if they could be lifted so easily] like a baseball bat like some idiot who has never been taught how to even hold a sword properly.

The buster sword and the tetsusaiga would have no real potency in a fight.
Why? Because first and foremost there is no defining techniques they use. Swinging something around like that leaves them invariably open and would not be capable of being swung like they swung it regardless of the wielder's strength as physics and gravity come into play. It's unreality borders complete nonsense in that it defies all physics or logic and thus I can say correctly, both as a literary student and writer, and a martial artist with 18 years experience and stage combat choreography under my belt, that it is completely and utterly useless."

I guess I should have added if you have seen this anime would this fall into the category. It has a few of the aspects of this point but not all. Karura actually uses the sword like a katana, not just barbarically swinging and crushing things in her path (though she does a few times). The sword itself is not supposed to be special in anyway except in the fact that it was so heavy if I remember correctly. That's how it pertains to this topic.

On a small side note if you haven't seen this anime you should it's really good.

I found you an new sword to boggle the mind, In Utawarerumono Karura carries a sword that like six men had difficulty lifting. My hubby called "the sword of the hell bent woman", I thought it was funny.

I do not mean to be rude, but how is that related to the topic? o.o;

"Most of these anime guys like Inuyasha, Cloud, and the like just swing ridiculous sized swords [which would not be effective even if they could be lifted so easily] like a baseball bat like some idiot who has never been taught how to even hold a sword properly.

The buster sword and the tetsusaiga would have no real potency in a fight.
Why? Because first and foremost there is no defining techniques they use. Swinging something around like that leaves them invariably open and would not be capable of being swung like they swung it regardless of the wielder's strength as physics and gravity come into play. It's unreality borders complete nonsense in that it defies all physics or logic and thus I can say correctly, both as a literary student and writer, and a martial artist with 18 years experience and stage combat choreography under my belt, that it is completely and utterly useless."

I guess I should have added if you have seen this anime would this fall into the category. It has a few of the aspects of this point but not all. Karura actually uses the sword like a katana, not just barbarically swinging and crushing things in her path (though she does a few times). The sword itself is not supposed to be special in anyway except in the fact that it was so heavy if I remember correctly. That's how it pertains to this topic.

On a small side note if you haven't seen this anime you should it's really good.

Ohhhh! Okay.
I must have got confused and thought you thought that the topic was about anime swords and I did not take into consideration that part of my OP as it was only supporting my main point.